May 24, 2002

While Northwestern's women's golf team earned its third straight NCAA postseason appearance, there was a feeling at season's end that there was some unfinished business that will have to wait until next year.

In search of its first Big Ten title and a second trip to the NCAA national championships, NU came up short in reaching those goals. But with a good nucleus of talent returning, the 'Cats should remain competitive with some of the country's best teams.

"There's no question we had lofty goals," said Head Coach Chris Regenberg, "and I think we were all disappointed that we didn't finish on a stronger note. I'm still encouraged about our future. There is a great deal of potential with this team."

Ranked in the nation's top 35 all season, the Wildcats started strong, placing second and third in their first two fall tournaments. A second-place finish at the 14-team Lady Northern and a third-place showing at the 16-team Big XII Invitational gave NU hope that the 2001-02 campaign could be one of the brightest in the program's 10-year history.

The Wildcats finished the fall with a respectable sixth-place finish at the Mercedes-Benz Women's Championships.

Following the winter break, NU resumed competition in late February at the Central District Classic, an event the Wildcats won in 2001. This year, NU placed 11th at the tournament. They followed that tournament with seventh- and 10th-place showings at a pair of Texas tournaments.

"We never seemed to get everyone, or at least four players, playing well once the spring season started," Regenberg said. "We just weren't jelling like I hoped."

A fourth-place finish at the Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout in late March was the 'Cats' best effort of the spring. NU concluded the regular season with a seventh-place finish at the Big Ten Championships.

But because of its strength of schedule and strong early-season start, NU earned an at-large bid to one of three 21-team NCAA regionals. Finishing in the region's top eight was the team's goal. The 'Cats, however, could only muster a 14th-place showing.

"I was pleased how we played on the final day of regionals (moving from 18th to 14th place), but we needed those kinds of performances all three days," said Regenberg. "This was a great learning experience for our young players."

The Wildcats lose one golfer, Emily Gilley (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor), to graduation. She closes her career as the program's only player to be honored with three All-Big Ten citations, while also playing in three NCAA postseason events.

Player Updates:

* Erin Breslin (Portland, Ore./Lincoln), Jr. -- Participated in one tournament -- the Big Ten Championships -- and placed 61st.

* Elizabeth Burden (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest), Jr. -- Best finish of the year came at the Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout, where she placed 20th ... Also had good showings in the final two regular-season events: 28th place at the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational and 28th at the Big Ten Championships ... Her best round of the year came at the conference tourney with a 1-over 73 in the second round ... With the exeption of two events (Bryan National Collegiate and NCAA Central Regional), placed in the top 44 of the other nine tournaments.

* Emily Gilley (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor), Sr. -- Equaled Hana Kim for most top-20 tourney finishes with six ... Shot a season-best 2-over-par and finished third at the season-opening Lady Northern Tournament ... Now owns two of the the top three 54-hole performances in school history ... Her 2-over 218 at the Lady Northern was the best three-round score in school history ... Placed 12th and 16th in respective back-to-back spring events at the Bryan National Collegiate and Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational ... Had 18th-place efforts at the Big XII Invitational and Mercedes-Benz Championships ... NU's medalist in a team-best four tournaments ... Closes four-year career with a 77.52 stroke average.

* Lauren Grzebien (Saunderstown, R.I./Narragansett), So. -- Was NU's medalist in season-ending NCAA Central Regional Championships ... Placed 49th at NCAAs, aided by a third-round 4-over 76 ... Finished 39th at Big Ten Championships ... Best season finish came at the Lady Northern, where she placed 20th ... Shot a 73 in the Lady Northern second round ... Also fired a 1-over 73 at the Bryan National Collegiate.

* Mary Ellen Grzebien (Saunderstown, R.I./Narragansett), Fr. -- Played in four of season's 11 events ... Placed 31st at her first collegiate event, the Lady Northern ... Fired a personal-best 74 in the second round of the Lady Northern.

* Hana Kim (Encino, Calif./Brentwood), So. -- Led team in scoring average with a 77.65 mark ... Totaled three top-10 and three top-20 finishes ... Her best effort came at the Verizon "Mo"morial where she placed eighth ... Shot even par or less in four of 31 rounds ... Placed 12th at Big Ten Championships ... Had 10th-place finishes at the Big XII Invitational and Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout ... Registered a career-best round of 68 in the second round of the Big XII tourney ... NU's medalist in three events.

* Ina Kim (Encino, Calif./Harvard-Westlake), Fr. -- Finished with three top-10 finishes, equaling her older sister's season feat ... In first two collegiate tournaments, placed eighth at the Lady Northern and seventh at the Big XII Invitational ... Best showing of the season came at the Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout, where she finished fourth ... Also had an 18th-place finish at the Mercedes-Benz Championships ... Posted 1-under 71's in two of her first five college rounds ... NU's medalist in three events.